SHRINKING PAINS: DECLINING ENROLMENTS, FISCAL RESTRAINT, AND TEACHER REDUNDANCY

Abstract

The prospect of enforced staff reductions as a consequence of the financial squeeze that school districts may expect puts them in a crucial dilemma. The "last in, first out" principle for redundancy dismissals will reduce the quality of instruction. Planned staff reductions on the "whenever in, worst out" principle cali for well-planned teacher development, and school districts must establish adequate diagnostic supervision techniques, effective inservice programs, and careful supervisory follow-up. These efforts are likely to be contested by some teacher associations. It is imperative that administra tors win these contests, Coleman feels, since the quality of instruction in Canadian education will largely depend on the outcome.